Intel CEO admits company no longer a top 10 semiconductor player

Intel’s new CEO Lip-Bu Tan has bluntly told employees that the company is no longer among the top 10 semiconductor companies globally, marking a stark acknowledgment of the chipmaker’s declining position in an industry it once dominated. The candid assessment comes as Intel faces mounting pressure from rivals like Nvidia, AMD, and Apple, while grappling with layoffs and concerns about its upcoming manufacturing technology.

What they’re saying: Tan delivered the sobering assessment during a video broadcast to Intel employees worldwide, pulling no punches about the company’s current standing.

• “Twenty, 30 years ago, we are really the leader,” he said. “Now I think the world has changed. We are not in the top 10 semiconductor companies.”
• On the AI training market specifically, Tan was even more direct: “On training I think it is too late for us,” noting that Nvidia’s position has become “too strong” with companies like Meta, xAI, and OpenAI purchasing hundreds of thousands of enterprise GPUs from the graphics chip giant.

The big picture: Intel’s admission reflects a dramatic shift in the semiconductor landscape, where Taiwan’s TSMC has emerged as the manufacturing powerhouse while competitors have captured key growth markets.

• TSMC’s rise has steadily eroded Intel’s dominance in PC and server markets, which were traditionally the company’s stronghold.
• Rivals including AMD, Apple, Nvidia, and Qualcomm have been producing cutting-edge processors and GPUs with TSMC’s help, leaving Intel struggling to keep pace.

Key challenges ahead: Intel faces uncertainty around its upcoming Intel 18A manufacturing technology, which is crucial for the company’s turnaround efforts.

• According to Reuters, Tan is concerned that customers won’t adopt Intel 18A despite it being designed to compete with TSMC’s solutions.
• “Our number one priority is to make sure that our 18A is robust for our internal customer,” Tan said, indicating the company may need to prove the technology internally before winning external adoption.

What’s next: Despite acknowledging defeat in AI training, Intel is focusing on specific areas where it believes it can still compete.

• The company’s second priority is shifting to its next-generation 14A process, likely targeted for 2027.
• Tan emphasized that Intel wants to remain focused on bringing AI capabilities to personal computers, suggesting the company sees opportunity in consumer AI rather than enterprise training markets.

Why this matters: The CEO’s frank assessment underscores the scale of Intel’s challenge as it attempts to engineer a turnaround while competitors continue to gain ground in high-growth AI and advanced computing markets.